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Revision 1.104 by root, Wed Apr 30 11:40:22 2008 UTC vs.
Revision 1.109 by root, Sat May 10 00:45:18 2008 UTC

1=head1 NAME 1=head1 NAME
2 2
3AnyEvent - provide framework for multiple event loops 3AnyEvent - provide framework for multiple event loops
4 4
5EV, Event, Coro::EV, Coro::Event, Glib, Tk, Perl, Event::Lib, Qt, POE - various supported event loops 5EV, Event, Glib, Tk, Perl, Event::Lib, Qt, POE - various supported event loops
6 6
7=head1 SYNOPSIS 7=head1 SYNOPSIS
8 8
9 use AnyEvent; 9 use AnyEvent;
10 10
15 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => $seconds, cb => sub { 15 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => $seconds, cb => sub {
16 ... 16 ...
17 }); 17 });
18 18
19 my $w = AnyEvent->condvar; # stores whether a condition was flagged 19 my $w = AnyEvent->condvar; # stores whether a condition was flagged
20 $w->wait; # enters "main loop" till $condvar gets ->broadcast 20 $w->wait; # enters "main loop" till $condvar gets ->send
21 $w->broadcast; # wake up current and all future wait's 21 $w->send; # wake up current and all future wait's
22 22
23=head1 WHY YOU SHOULD USE THIS MODULE (OR NOT) 23=head1 WHY YOU SHOULD USE THIS MODULE (OR NOT)
24 24
25Glib, POE, IO::Async, Event... CPAN offers event models by the dozen 25Glib, POE, IO::Async, Event... CPAN offers event models by the dozen
26nowadays. So what is different about AnyEvent? 26nowadays. So what is different about AnyEvent?
78The interface itself is vaguely similar, but not identical to the L<Event> 78The interface itself is vaguely similar, but not identical to the L<Event>
79module. 79module.
80 80
81During the first call of any watcher-creation method, the module tries 81During the first call of any watcher-creation method, the module tries
82to detect the currently loaded event loop by probing whether one of the 82to detect the currently loaded event loop by probing whether one of the
83following modules is already loaded: L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>, L<EV>, 83following modules is already loaded: L<EV>,
84L<Event>, L<Glib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>, L<Tk>, L<Event::Lib>, L<Qt>, 84L<Event>, L<Glib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>, L<Tk>, L<Event::Lib>, L<Qt>,
85L<POE>. The first one found is used. If none are found, the module tries 85L<POE>. The first one found is used. If none are found, the module tries
86to load these modules (excluding Tk, Event::Lib, Qt and POE as the pure perl 86to load these modules (excluding Tk, Event::Lib, Qt and POE as the pure perl
87adaptor should always succeed) in the order given. The first one that can 87adaptor should always succeed) in the order given. The first one that can
88be successfully loaded will be used. If, after this, still none could be 88be successfully loaded will be used. If, after this, still none could be
288 my $w = AnyEvent->child ( 288 my $w = AnyEvent->child (
289 pid => $pid, 289 pid => $pid,
290 cb => sub { 290 cb => sub {
291 my ($pid, $status) = @_; 291 my ($pid, $status) = @_;
292 warn "pid $pid exited with status $status"; 292 warn "pid $pid exited with status $status";
293 $done->broadcast; 293 $done->send;
294 }, 294 },
295 ); 295 );
296 296
297 # do something else, then wait for process exit 297 # do something else, then wait for process exit
298 $done->wait; 298 $done->wait;
299 299
300=head2 CONDITION VARIABLES 300=head2 CONDITION VARIABLES
301 301
302If you are familiar with some event loops you will know that all of them
303require you to run some blocking "loop", "run" or similar function that
304will actively watch for new events and call your callbacks.
305
306AnyEvent is different, it expects somebody else to run the event loop and
307will only block when necessary (usually when told by the user).
308
309The instrument to do that is called a "condition variable", so called
310because they represent a condition that must become true.
311
302Condition variables can be created by calling the C<< AnyEvent->condvar >> 312Condition variables can be created by calling the C<< AnyEvent->condvar
303method without any arguments. 313>> method, usually without arguments. The only argument pair allowed is
314C<cb>, which specifies a callback to be called when the condition variable
315becomes true.
304 316
305A condition variable waits for a condition - precisely that the C<< 317After creation, the conditon variable is "false" until it becomes "true"
306->broadcast >> method has been called. 318by calling the C<send> method.
307 319
308They are very useful to signal that a condition has been fulfilled, for 320Condition variables are similar to callbacks, except that you can
321optionally wait for them. They can also be called merge points - points
322in time where multiple outstandign events have been processed. And yet
323another way to call them is transations - each condition variable can be
324used to represent a transaction, which finishes at some point and delivers
325a result.
326
327Condition variables are very useful to signal that something has finished,
309example, if you write a module that does asynchronous http requests, 328for example, if you write a module that does asynchronous http requests,
310then a condition variable would be the ideal candidate to signal the 329then a condition variable would be the ideal candidate to signal the
311availability of results. 330availability of results. The user can either act when the callback is
331called or can synchronously C<< ->wait >> for the results.
312 332
313You can also use condition variables to block your main program until 333You can also use them to simulate traditional event loops - for example,
314an event occurs - for example, you could C<< ->wait >> in your main 334you can block your main program until an event occurs - for example, you
315program until the user clicks the Quit button in your app, which would C<< 335could C<< ->wait >> in your main program until the user clicks the Quit
316->broadcast >> the "quit" event. 336button of your app, which would C<< ->send >> the "quit" event.
317 337
318Note that condition variables recurse into the event loop - if you have 338Note that condition variables recurse into the event loop - if you have
319two pirces of code that call C<< ->wait >> in a round-robbin fashion, you 339two pieces of code that call C<< ->wait >> in a round-robbin fashion, you
320lose. Therefore, condition variables are good to export to your caller, but 340lose. Therefore, condition variables are good to export to your caller, but
321you should avoid making a blocking wait yourself, at least in callbacks, 341you should avoid making a blocking wait yourself, at least in callbacks,
322as this asks for trouble. 342as this asks for trouble.
323 343
324This object has two methods: 344Condition variables are represented by hash refs in perl, and the keys
345used by AnyEvent itself are all named C<_ae_XXX> to make subclassing
346easy (it is often useful to build your own transaction class on top of
347AnyEvent). To subclass, use C<AnyEvent::CondVar> as base class and call
348it's C<new> method in your own C<new> method.
349
350There are two "sides" to a condition variable - the "producer side" which
351eventually calls C<< -> send >>, and the "consumer side", which waits
352for the send to occur.
353
354Example:
355
356 # wait till the result is ready
357 my $result_ready = AnyEvent->condvar;
358
359 # do something such as adding a timer
360 # or socket watcher the calls $result_ready->send
361 # when the "result" is ready.
362 # in this case, we simply use a timer:
363 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (
364 after => 1,
365 cb => sub { $result_ready->send },
366 );
367
368 # this "blocks" (while handling events) till the callback
369 # calls send
370 $result_ready->wait;
371
372=head3 METHODS FOR PRODUCERS
373
374These methods should only be used by the producing side, i.e. the
375code/module that eventually sends the signal. Note that it is also
376the producer side which creates the condvar in most cases, but it isn't
377uncommon for the consumer to create it as well.
325 378
326=over 4 379=over 4
327 380
381=item $cv->send (...)
382
383Flag the condition as ready - a running C<< ->wait >> and all further
384calls to C<wait> will (eventually) return after this method has been
385called. If nobody is waiting the send will be remembered.
386
387If a callback has been set on the condition variable, it is called
388immediately from within send.
389
390Any arguments passed to the C<send> call will be returned by all
391future C<< ->wait >> calls.
392
393=item $cv->croak ($error)
394
395Similar to send, but causes all call's wait C<< ->wait >> to invoke
396C<Carp::croak> with the given error message/object/scalar.
397
398This can be used to signal any errors to the condition variable
399user/consumer.
400
401=item $cv->begin ([group callback])
402
403=item $cv->end
404
405These two methods can be used to combine many transactions/events into
406one. For example, a function that pings many hosts in parallel might want
407to use a condition variable for the whole process.
408
409Every call to C<< ->begin >> will increment a counter, and every call to
410C<< ->end >> will decrement it. If the counter reaches C<0> in C<< ->end
411>>, the (last) callback passed to C<begin> will be executed. That callback
412is I<supposed> to call C<< ->send >>, but that is not required. If no
413callback was set, C<send> will be called without any arguments.
414
415Let's clarify this with the ping example:
416
417 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
418
419 my %result;
420 $cv->begin (sub { $cv->send (\%result) });
421
422 for my $host (@list_of_hosts) {
423 $cv->begin;
424 ping_host_then_call_callback $host, sub {
425 $result{$host} = ...;
426 $cv->end;
427 };
428 }
429
430 $cv->end;
431
432This code fragment supposedly pings a number of hosts and calls
433C<send> after results for all then have have been gathered - in any
434order. To achieve this, the code issues a call to C<begin> when it starts
435each ping request and calls C<end> when it has received some result for
436it. Since C<begin> and C<end> only maintain a counter, the order in which
437results arrive is not relevant.
438
439There is an additional bracketing call to C<begin> and C<end> outside the
440loop, which serves two important purposes: first, it sets the callback
441to be called once the counter reaches C<0>, and second, it ensures that
442C<send> is called even when C<no> hosts are being pinged (the loop
443doesn't execute once).
444
445This is the general pattern when you "fan out" into multiple subrequests:
446use an outer C<begin>/C<end> pair to set the callback and ensure C<end>
447is called at least once, and then, for each subrequest you start, call
448C<begin> and for eahc subrequest you finish, call C<end>.
449
450=back
451
452=head3 METHODS FOR CONSUMERS
453
454These methods should only be used by the consuming side, i.e. the
455code awaits the condition.
456
457=over 4
458
328=item $cv->wait 459=item $cv->wait
329 460
330Wait (blocking if necessary) until the C<< ->broadcast >> method has been 461Wait (blocking if necessary) until the C<< ->send >> or C<< ->croak
331called on c<$cv>, while servicing other watchers normally. 462>> methods have been called on c<$cv>, while servicing other watchers
463normally.
332 464
333You can only wait once on a condition - additional calls will return 465You can only wait once on a condition - additional calls are valid but
334immediately. 466will return immediately.
467
468If an error condition has been set by calling C<< ->croak >>, then this
469function will call C<croak>.
470
471In list context, all parameters passed to C<send> will be returned,
472in scalar context only the first one will be returned.
335 473
336Not all event models support a blocking wait - some die in that case 474Not all event models support a blocking wait - some die in that case
337(programs might want to do that to stay interactive), so I<if you are 475(programs might want to do that to stay interactive), so I<if you are
338using this from a module, never require a blocking wait>, but let the 476using this from a module, never require a blocking wait>, but let the
339caller decide whether the call will block or not (for example, by coupling 477caller decide whether the call will block or not (for example, by coupling
342while still suppporting blocking waits if the caller so desires). 480while still suppporting blocking waits if the caller so desires).
343 481
344Another reason I<never> to C<< ->wait >> in a module is that you cannot 482Another reason I<never> to C<< ->wait >> in a module is that you cannot
345sensibly have two C<< ->wait >>'s in parallel, as that would require 483sensibly have two C<< ->wait >>'s in parallel, as that would require
346multiple interpreters or coroutines/threads, none of which C<AnyEvent> 484multiple interpreters or coroutines/threads, none of which C<AnyEvent>
347can supply (the coroutine-aware backends L<AnyEvent::Impl::CoroEV> and 485can supply.
348L<AnyEvent::Impl::CoroEvent> explicitly support concurrent C<< ->wait >>'s
349from different coroutines, however).
350 486
351=item $cv->broadcast 487The L<Coro> module, however, I<can> and I<does> supply coroutines and, in
488fact, L<Coro::AnyEvent> replaces AnyEvent's condvars by coroutine-safe
489versions and also integrates coroutines into AnyEvent, making blocking
490C<< ->wait >> calls perfectly safe as long as they are done from another
491coroutine (one that doesn't run the event loop).
352 492
353Flag the condition as ready - a running C<< ->wait >> and all further 493You can ensure that C<< -wait >> never blocks by setting a callback and
354calls to C<wait> will (eventually) return after this method has been 494only calling C<< ->wait >> from within that callback (or at a later
355called. If nobody is waiting the broadcast will be remembered.. 495time). This will work even when the event loop does not support blocking
496waits otherwise.
497
498=item $bool = $cv->ready
499
500Returns true when the condition is "true", i.e. whether C<send> or
501C<croak> have been called.
502
503=item $cb = $cv->cb ([new callback])
504
505This is a mutator function that returns the callback set and optionally
506replaces it before doing so.
507
508The callback will be called when the condition becomes "true", i.e. when
509C<send> or C<croak> are called. Calling C<wait> inside the callback
510or at any later time is guaranteed not to block.
356 511
357=back 512=back
358
359Example:
360
361 # wait till the result is ready
362 my $result_ready = AnyEvent->condvar;
363
364 # do something such as adding a timer
365 # or socket watcher the calls $result_ready->broadcast
366 # when the "result" is ready.
367 # in this case, we simply use a timer:
368 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (
369 after => 1,
370 cb => sub { $result_ready->broadcast },
371 );
372
373 # this "blocks" (while handling events) till the watcher
374 # calls broadcast
375 $result_ready->wait;
376 513
377=head1 GLOBAL VARIABLES AND FUNCTIONS 514=head1 GLOBAL VARIABLES AND FUNCTIONS
378 515
379=over 4 516=over 4
380 517
386C<AnyEvent::Impl:xxx> modules, but can be any other class in the case 523C<AnyEvent::Impl:xxx> modules, but can be any other class in the case
387AnyEvent has been extended at runtime (e.g. in I<rxvt-unicode>). 524AnyEvent has been extended at runtime (e.g. in I<rxvt-unicode>).
388 525
389The known classes so far are: 526The known classes so far are:
390 527
391 AnyEvent::Impl::CoroEV based on Coro::EV, best choice.
392 AnyEvent::Impl::CoroEvent based on Coro::Event, second best choice.
393 AnyEvent::Impl::EV based on EV (an interface to libev, best choice). 528 AnyEvent::Impl::EV based on EV (an interface to libev, best choice).
394 AnyEvent::Impl::Event based on Event, second best choice. 529 AnyEvent::Impl::Event based on Event, second best choice.
395 AnyEvent::Impl::Perl pure-perl implementation, fast and portable. 530 AnyEvent::Impl::Perl pure-perl implementation, fast and portable.
396 AnyEvent::Impl::Glib based on Glib, third-best choice. 531 AnyEvent::Impl::Glib based on Glib, third-best choice.
397 AnyEvent::Impl::Tk based on Tk, very bad choice. 532 AnyEvent::Impl::Tk based on Tk, very bad choice.
414Returns C<$AnyEvent::MODEL>, forcing autodetection of the event model 549Returns C<$AnyEvent::MODEL>, forcing autodetection of the event model
415if necessary. You should only call this function right before you would 550if necessary. You should only call this function right before you would
416have created an AnyEvent watcher anyway, that is, as late as possible at 551have created an AnyEvent watcher anyway, that is, as late as possible at
417runtime. 552runtime.
418 553
554=item AnyEvent::on_detect { BLOCK }
555
556Arranges for the code block to be executed as soon as the event model is
557autodetected (or immediately if this has already happened).
558
559=item @AnyEvent::on_detect
560
561If there are any code references in this array (you can C<push> to it
562before or after loading AnyEvent), then they will called directly after
563the event loop has been chosen.
564
565You should check C<$AnyEvent::MODEL> before adding to this array, though:
566if it contains a true value then the event loop has already been detected,
567and the array will be ignored.
568
569Best use C<AnyEvent::on_detect { BLOCK }> instead.
570
419=back 571=back
420 572
421=head1 WHAT TO DO IN A MODULE 573=head1 WHAT TO DO IN A MODULE
422 574
423As a module author, you should C<use AnyEvent> and call AnyEvent methods 575As a module author, you should C<use AnyEvent> and call AnyEvent methods
427decide which event module to use as soon as the first method is called, so 579decide which event module to use as soon as the first method is called, so
428by calling AnyEvent in your module body you force the user of your module 580by calling AnyEvent in your module body you force the user of your module
429to load the event module first. 581to load the event module first.
430 582
431Never call C<< ->wait >> on a condition variable unless you I<know> that 583Never call C<< ->wait >> on a condition variable unless you I<know> that
432the C<< ->broadcast >> method has been called on it already. This is 584the C<< ->send >> method has been called on it already. This is
433because it will stall the whole program, and the whole point of using 585because it will stall the whole program, and the whole point of using
434events is to stay interactive. 586events is to stay interactive.
435 587
436It is fine, however, to call C<< ->wait >> when the user of your module 588It is fine, however, to call C<< ->wait >> when the user of your module
437requests it (i.e. if you create a http request object ad have a method 589requests it (i.e. if you create a http request object ad have a method
511 663
512High level API for event-based execution flow control. 664High level API for event-based execution flow control.
513 665
514=item L<Coro> 666=item L<Coro>
515 667
516Has special support for AnyEvent. 668Has special support for AnyEvent via L<Coro::AnyEvent>.
517 669
518=item L<IO::Lambda> 670=item L<IO::Lambda>
519 671
520The lambda approach to I/O - don't ask, look there. Can use AnyEvent. 672The lambda approach to I/O - don't ask, look there. Can use AnyEvent.
521 673
538no warnings; 690no warnings;
539use strict; 691use strict;
540 692
541use Carp; 693use Carp;
542 694
543our $VERSION = '3.3'; 695our $VERSION = '3.4';
544our $MODEL; 696our $MODEL;
545 697
546our $AUTOLOAD; 698our $AUTOLOAD;
547our @ISA; 699our @ISA;
548 700
549our $verbose = $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}*1; 701our $verbose = $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}*1;
550 702
551our @REGISTRY; 703our @REGISTRY;
552 704
553my @models = ( 705my @models = (
554 [Coro::EV:: => AnyEvent::Impl::CoroEV::],
555 [Coro::Event:: => AnyEvent::Impl::CoroEvent::],
556 [EV:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EV::], 706 [EV:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EV::],
557 [Event:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Event::], 707 [Event:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Event::],
558 [Tk:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Tk::], 708 [Tk:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Tk::],
559 [Wx:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], 709 [Wx:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::],
560 [Prima:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], 710 [Prima:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::],
564 [Event::Lib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib::], # too buggy 714 [Event::Lib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib::], # too buggy
565 [Qt:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Qt::], # requires special main program 715 [Qt:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Qt::], # requires special main program
566 [POE::Kernel:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], # lasciate ogni speranza 716 [POE::Kernel:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], # lasciate ogni speranza
567); 717);
568 718
569our %method = map +($_ => 1), qw(io timer signal child condvar broadcast wait one_event DESTROY); 719our %method = map +($_ => 1), qw(io timer signal child condvar one_event DESTROY);
720
721our @on_detect;
722
723sub on_detect(&) {
724 if ($MODEL) {
725 $_[0]->();
726 } else {
727 push @on_detect, $_[0];
728 }
729}
570 730
571sub detect() { 731sub detect() {
572 unless ($MODEL) { 732 unless ($MODEL) {
573 no strict 'refs'; 733 no strict 'refs';
574 734
608 last; 768 last;
609 } 769 }
610 } 770 }
611 771
612 $MODEL 772 $MODEL
613 or die "No event module selected for AnyEvent and autodetect failed. Install any one of these modules: EV (or Coro+EV), Event (or Coro+Event) or Glib."; 773 or die "No event module selected for AnyEvent and autodetect failed. Install any one of these modules: EV, Event or Glib.";
614 } 774 }
615 } 775 }
616 776
617 unshift @ISA, $MODEL; 777 unshift @ISA, $MODEL;
618 push @{"$MODEL\::ISA"}, "AnyEvent::Base"; 778 push @{"$MODEL\::ISA"}, "AnyEvent::Base";
779
780 (shift @on_detect)->() while @on_detect;
619 } 781 }
620 782
621 $MODEL 783 $MODEL
622} 784}
623 785
1257 1419
1258 BEGIN { delete $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} } 1420 BEGIN { delete $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} }
1259 1421
1260 use AnyEvent; 1422 use AnyEvent;
1261 1423
1424Similar considerations apply to $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}, as that can
1425be used to probe what backend is used and gain other information (which is
1426probably even less useful to an attacker than PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL).
1427
1262 1428
1263=head1 SEE ALSO 1429=head1 SEE ALSO
1264 1430
1265Event modules: L<Coro::EV>, L<EV>, L<EV::Glib>, L<Glib::EV>, 1431Event modules: L<EV>, L<EV::Glib>, L<Glib::EV>, L<Event>, L<Glib::Event>,
1266L<Coro::Event>, L<Event>, L<Glib::Event>, L<Glib>, L<Coro>, L<Tk>,
1267L<Event::Lib>, L<Qt>, L<POE>. 1432L<Glib>, L<Tk>, L<Event::Lib>, L<Qt>, L<POE>.
1268 1433
1269Implementations: L<AnyEvent::Impl::CoroEV>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::EV>, 1434Implementations: L<AnyEvent::Impl::EV>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Event>,
1270L<AnyEvent::Impl::CoroEvent>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Event>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Glib>, 1435L<AnyEvent::Impl::Glib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Tk>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>,
1271L<AnyEvent::Impl::Tk>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib>, 1436L<AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Qt>,
1272L<AnyEvent::Impl::Qt>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::POE>. 1437L<AnyEvent::Impl::POE>.
1438
1439Coroutine support: L<Coro>, L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>,
1273 1440
1274Nontrivial usage examples: L<Net::FCP>, L<Net::XMPP2>. 1441Nontrivial usage examples: L<Net::FCP>, L<Net::XMPP2>.
1275 1442
1276 1443
1277=head1 AUTHOR 1444=head1 AUTHOR

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